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A man has been sentenced to six months in prison and fined BD37,856 for attempting to smuggle illegal chewing tobacco, hidden inside pre-cast concrete blocks.
The smuggler had been caught when he attempted to bring in 2,912kg of ‘tombac’, worth an estimated street value of BD37,856, through Bahrain’s seaport, according to a statement issued yesterday by the Public Prosecution’s tax evasion crimes unit chief within its financial crimes and money laundering office.
Tombac, often used in sheesha smoking, is a type of tobacco and is illegal in Bahrain.
The suspect, whose age and nationality were not disclosed, was found guilty after being referred to the prosecution by the Interior Ministry’s Customs Affairs department.
Customs officers at the seaport had come across the suspicious shipment, and upon inspection, they discovered the prohibited substance inside ready-mix concrete blocks.
The substance was seized and the case was referred to the Public Prosecution, which took the statement of the involved officer and inspected the seized goods.
Experts were appointed to examine the seized blocks and confirm the presence of tombac.
The unit also took statements from the customs broker and several witnesses.
The investigation concluded that the defendant, who owned the business attempting to import tombac, had ordered the seized shipment and submitted false documents to customs authorities, intending to circumvent the import restrictions.
An arrest warrant was issued and the defendant was referred to the Lower Criminal Court.
The court convicted him, sentenced him to prison and imposed a fine equivalent to the value of the confiscated goods.
He will also be permanently deported from the kingdom upon completion of his sentence.
naman@gdnmedia.bh
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